GVK Health Hub Warns of Asymptomatic Heart Disease on World Heart Day

The event focused on identifying risk factors, assessing the prevalence of asymptomatic heart disease, and emphasizing the critical role of heart health screenings, especially in patients who show no outward signs of heart problems. It underscored the need for personalized, preventive care when it comes to cardiac health. Preventive cardiology is about being proactive. Early detection, treatment, and lifestyle changes can make all the difference in reducing the burden of heart disease.

Speaking on World Heart Day, Dr. N. G. Sastry, Medical Director, GVK Health Hub, said, "No heart disease appears randomly. There are always underlying risk factors such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes, family history, smoking, and high cholesterol. Identifying the modifiable risk factors early allows us to take preventive action before the disease fully develops Uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension are two of the biggest risk factors for developing heart disease. By identifying these conditions early, we can intervene before a patient progresses to more serious cardiac issues".

Speaking on subclinical and asymptomatic cardiac diseases, Dr. N. G. Sastry further added, “Asymptomatic heart disease means no visible symptoms, but it does not mean the disease isn’t present. Many patients may feel completely fine while still harbouring underlying conditions that could lead to serious cardiac events in the future. Screening becomes crucial in these cases”.

Dr. SriKrishna Srikakulapu, Cardiologist, GVK Health Hub, further encourages proactive heart health screening with quick and simple tests, which involves – Blood pressure checks from age 20 every two years, blood glucose from age 35 every three years, and cholesterol tests from age 20 every five years.

Advising on Weight and BMI assessments at each doctor's visit, he added, "We’re now seeing 50-60% of our outpatient cases for chest pains and discomfort, coming from younger patients. Furthermore, while COVID-19 is primarily a respiratory disease, it has left many individuals with post-COVID cardiac complications like myocardial injury, arrhythmias, and myocarditis, which may lead to chronic heart disease. It has also led to risks of a hypercoagulable state, increasing the risk of blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes. We’ve observed an increased risk of heart attacks across all age groups, especially in younger populations, following COVID-19.”